Menlo College proves its credentials

San Mateo County Times, Sept. 8, 2001

By John Baker
Staff Writer

ATHERTON -- Menlo College perhaps proved its credentials Saturday to naysayers who wondered if the stellar performances of star quarterback Zamir Amin and receivers Nathan Jackson and Eddie Miller would hold up against advanced competition.

Behind standout offensive -- and defensive -- performances, Menlo shocked highly touted Hardin-Simmons University 35-28 at Menlo College.

The Oaks (2-0) perhaps surprised the Cowboys -- ranked No. 1 in the pre-season Div. III poll by Street and Smith -- by jumping out to a 28-7 first-half lead. Amin's passing provided an offensive force for Menlo, as the signal caller completed 14 of 23 passes for 252 yards in the half (20-38 for 318 yards overall). The Oaks averaged 8 yards a play and did not have to punt in the first two quarters.

Good fortune shone early for Menlo, when Hardin-Simmons' Skeet Smith fumbled the opening kickoff and Menlo recovered on the 30-yard line. Three plays later, the Oaks' Duane Miller ran the ball in two yards to give Menlo the lead with just over a minute elapsed.

"Everyone was just in the right spot, pumped and doing what they were coached," said defensive back Kahekili Hugo, who was on the kickoff team. "We knew early on in the week that this game was ours."

Menlo proved that, as it went up 20-0 after Amin lofted scoring strikes of 28 and 25 yards to Eddie Miller and Jackson, respectively. Miller and Jackson were Amin's only passing targets for the day, tallying 132 and 186 yards receiving, respectively. Miller pulled in another TD reception to make it 28-7 at the half.

"I'll put Nate Jackson and Ed Miller against any two receivers in the country," said Menlo offensive coordinator Dave Muir.

Muir said the Oaks' offensive plan was not to let up because the Cowboys had the offensive power to comeback themselves.

"I was really content with staying with the game plan and not pulling off," Muir said. "I just wanted to go for the throat."

Menlo scored again with 9:36 left in the game when Jackson made an over-the-shoulder catch on the right side to make it 35-14. The extra points were to prove necessary when Hardin-Simmons scored on an 11-yard run from Paxton Hurst and a one-yard run by Dustin Proctor to close the gap to 35-28 with a minute to play. The Cowboys (0-1) then had a couple of chances to recover a bouncing on-side kick, but the Oaks recovered and ran out the clock for the win.

First-year coach Menlo coach Mark Kanaapu was proud of his squad, which he said has a simple philosophy.

"The kids have really bought into what we've been trying to do around here," Kanaapu said. "Today we scored more often then they did, let's put it that way."